Clasp for bandages and like wrappings



y 26, 1932- J. G. TOMPKINS 1,353,644

-CLASP FOR BANDAGES AND LIKE WRAPPI NGS Filed April 28, 1931 JamesGTompkins.

Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES JAMES G. TOMPIKINS, OF VENICE,CALIFORNIA CLASP FOR BANDAGES AND LIKE WRAPPINGS Application filed April28, 1931. Serial No. 583,443. 1

This invention relates to an improved clasp which is particularly welladapted for affixing catamenial bandages to belts or other supports aswell as for supporting and reliably maintaining in place other bandagesand wrappings.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, small inexpensiveeasily operable and most reliable clasp which will do away with thenecessity of employing bothersome and cumbersome hooks, safety pins andother fastenings as now generally employed for the urposesaforementioned and therefore elimmate the difficulties attending theaflixation of bandages et cetera with said hooks, pins, etc.

Another object is to 1 rovide a clasp of the character described w ichprimarily comprises a simple form of clasp element similar to the claspforming the subject matter of my former application, Serial Number466,951, filed July 10, 1930, and which may be readily made in one pieceand quickly opera-ted in a particularly efficacious manner to securelyfasten a piece of fabric such as a bandage or wrapping, by the simpleexpedient of hooking the fabric thereto then turning the element andfabric thereon throughout one complete revolution on the axes of the twospaced points of its aflixation to a supporting means therefor.

A further object is to provide a clasp of the character described whichcombines a hook and button portion in a single piece of simpleconstruction and which makes possible the advantages hereinbefore noted.

Yet another object is to provide a clasp of the character describedhaving a small flexible yoke or support through which the clasp isturned in securing the same in place, the flexibility of the yoke orsupport permitting of close conformity of the entire clasp t0 curvedsurfaces and insuring comfort as well as otherwise improving the claspasa whole.

With the foregoinglobjects in view together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in theparts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of, parts ashereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated byway of example inthe accompanymg drawing in which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a catamenial bandage supporthaving the clasps of my invention incorporated therewith Figure 2 isafront elevation of one of the clasps as when in initial position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the ing the clasp in final oroperative position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevation of the clasp;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of'line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention.

As shown in detail in the accompanying drawing, the present embodimentof the clasp of this invention comprises a button'member 1 provided witha hook or prong 2 and spaced arms 3. The arms 3 are arranged to besecured in such manner, to a supporting means such as shown at 4, thatthe button portion and said arms, or in other words, the entire clasp,may be turned freely in either direction through three hundred and sixtydegrees of arc. This movement of the clasp is necessary to secure theclasp to the bandage, or the like, to be held.

The first operation in using the clasp requires that an end oredgeportion of the bandage or alike member, as here designated A, be hookedupon the front of the buttonportion 1 on the prong or hook 2, as shownin Figures 2 and 3. Next the clasp and fabric portion attached theretoare swung outward and upward, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and turnedthrough three hundred and sixty degrees of arc as aforementioned. Thiswraps the bandage or fabric member around the button portion so thatsaid bandageor member extends between the arms 3 and over the front ofthe button. Due to this w 'apping, the portion of the fabric on the hookis relieved of strain and the likelihood of tearing of the fabric isappreciably lessened. To release the clasp it is turned in the oppositedirection back to the starting point and the bandage then may be easilyremoved. It is now apparent that the clasp may be quickly and easily putinto use and will lie close to the clothing or the body in fiat andsmall compass so as not to form unsightly bulges or prove discomforting.But two movements, that of hooking the fabric on the clasp, then theturning of the clasp, are necessary to reliably secure the bandage orfabric member to the clasp or vice versa. This, it will be noted, is aneasier and quicker operation thanpossible with buckles, clasps and likefastenings, such as heretofore used.

Preferably the button portion 1 is formed as an open square of suitablemetal or other material. The prong or hook 2 is formed integral with theouter end of the button portion centrally of the sides thereof andextends rearwardly across and beyond said portion with its pointed freeend lying between the planes of the front and rear faces of the arms 3whereby to prevent the said prong from catching in the clothing orsticking the wearer or user of the clasp.

As here shown, the arms 3 are formed integral with the inner cornerportions of the button 1 and extend diver-gently rearwardly therefrom.Eyes 5 are formed in outer ends of said arms and provide for pivotal orswivel connection of the arms with the support means 4:. The supportmeans 4 may be any form providing a yoke through which the clasp may beturned as aforesaid. As here shown, the yoke comprises two spacedflexible members 6 which may be made of elastic or inelastic materialand serve as hangers. As shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, two of theclasps of this invention are used as a part of a catamenial belt 7 beingattached as at 8 to the usual elastic tabs 9 and 10. These clasps areused in the manner aforementioned to clasp the ends of a catamenialbandage to hold the latter in place.

It is obvious that the clasp may be used for many other purposes inconnection with garments and otherwise, and in all cases the twoflexible members 6 are employed as shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive tosecure the clasp in place. However, two clasps may be connected togetherby two of the flexible elements 6, as shown in Figure 9. The clasparrangement shown in Eigure 9 is ideally adapted for holding bandageswhich are wrapped around the limbs or the body but may be put to manyother uses for holding fabric wrappings or clothing in place. Theelements 6 of the arrangement of Figure 9 are preferably but notnecessarily elastic.

It should be noted that the clasp as shown herewith could be made toserve effectively for the purposes hereof without the hook or prong 2although the latter positively prevents the clasp from coming undone andfacilitates the clasping operation from start to finish. However, if thehook is left off the clasp, the operator merely wraps the end of thebandage, or fabric to be secured, around the button portion so that saidend extends over the inner end of and behind the button. Followin this,the operation of swinging the clasp completely around on the axes of thetwo points of afilxation of the arms 3 thereof, is followed in samemanner as hereinbefore described. The wrapping of the fabric on thebutton resulting from thisturning or reversing of the clasp causes aclose and secure binding of the fabric on the clasp which bindingtightens as the pull thereon increases.

I claim:

1. In a clasp, abutton portion, spaced arms carried by and extendingfrom one end of said portion, a hook on said portion, and supportingmeans pivotally connected with the free ends of said arms and permittingof a complete revolution of the clasp on the axes of-said pivotalconnections.

2. In a clasp. a button portion, spaced arms carriedby and extendingfrom one end of said portion, a hook on said portion, and supportingmeans pivotally connected with the free ends of said arms and permittingof a complete revolution of the clasp on the axes of said pivotalconnections. said means including spaced members to the outer ends ofwhich said arms are connected and between which the clasp may swing.

3. In a clasp. a button portion, spaced arms carried by and extendingfrom one end of said portion, a hook on said portion, and supportingmeans pivotally connected with the free ends of said arms and permittingof a complete revolution of the clasp on the axes of said pivotalconnections, said means including spaced flexible members to certainends of which said arms are connected as aforesaid.

4. In a clasp. a button portion, spaced arms carried by and extendingfrom one end of said portion. a hook on said portion, supporting meanspivotally connected with the free ends of said arms and permitting of acomplete revolution of the clasp on the axes of said pivotalconnections. said means including spaced flexible members to certainends of which said arms are connected as aforesaid, and a prong on saidbutton portion and on which said fabric member may be hooked.

5. In a clas a button portion, spaced arms extending from one side ofsaid portion, a support, flexible members fixed at respective ends tosaid arms and said support, and a prong fixed to said button portion andextending in front thereof to serve as a hook

